Wolves 0 Chelsea 2: Petr Cech ready to go toe-to-toe with Inter Milan

22 Feb 2010 01:38:18

As befits a man who was involved in every decisive moment at Molineux, Petr Cech was on the front foot after the final whistle.
While Carlo Ancelotti proclaimed that, yes, he would shake Jose Mourinho's hand ahead of this week's Champions League blockbuster, and that, no, it was not the Special One's team any longer, Chelsea's keeper was in bullish mood.
Cech had pulled off two excellent saves and was credited with assists for both Didier Drogba goals in a victory that was by no means as comfortable as the scoreline suggested.
Roaring his team to victory: Petr Cech is ready for whatever his old boss can throw at him
But when pressed about Wednesday's tie against Inter Milan, the keeper warned Mourinho that if he wanted to engage in a good old-fashioned shootout, then the Blues were not about to shy away.
'When you play in the last 16 of the Champions League you will always find great strikers,' said Cech. 'If you are going to be top of Serie A, you are going to have forwards who score goals. And lots of them.
'Obviously, it's going to be dangerous for us with Samuel Eto'o, Diego Milito and Mario Balotelli. They have good quality.
'But if you look at our team with Didier Drogba, Nicolas Anelka and others we can match them perfectly.'
No individual is bigger than the club, but Mourinho's personality was everywhere at Stamford Bridge. He came, he saw and he conquered. As he told everyone he would.
Net result: Drogba wheels away after the opener
MATCH FACTSWolves (4-5-1): Hahnemann; Zubar, Craddock, Berra, Ward; Foley (Halford 76min), Guedioura, Henry, Jones (Ebanks-Blake 76), Jarvis (Mujangi 76); Doyle.
Subs (not used): Hennessey, Elokobi, Vokes, Milijas.
Chelsea (4-4-2): Cech; Ferreira, Ivanovic, Terry, Zhirkov (Bruma 56); Ballack, Mikel, Malouda, J Cole; Anelka, Drogba.
Subs (not used): Hilario, Kalou, Sturridge, Matic, Kakuta, Borini.
Booked: Ballack.
Referee: K Friend (Leics).
There was also the implied threat that any mind-games will not work, either.
'It's always interesting when he is about,' added Cech. 'We all know what a great past he had at this club. But for this fixture, you can't change what happened in the past, only what will happen in the future.
'It will be the first time Jose will lead another team out at Stamford Bridge. But the players' main focus is what will happen on the pitch.
'He knows how we can play. He knows the players here. We know him. And how he likes his team to play. Then we will see on the pitch who will take advantage. It's 11 v 11. The best 11 on the pitch will make the difference.
'He always has a reason to say a few things. He wants to prepare the game his way. All we are worried about is what will happen on the pitch: talking is talking but playing is playing.'
Double trouble: Didier Drogba fired two goals to send Chelsea four points clear
Poignant: Drogba show his support for a member of Chelsea's backroom staff
It was Mourinho's best signing, Drogba, who scored both goals to secure the victory and bring his season's tally to 25.
Ancelottisuggested he can eclipse his own 33-goal record for the season, adding:'Didier has been brilliant for us for many years. He is one of the beststrikers in the world.'
Drogba, together with his team-mates, revealed a T-shirt at the final whistle with the slogan 'Get well soon Bulldog' in honour of players' assistant Frank Steer, who had an operation last week.
It was difficult not to feel sympathy for Wolves boss Mick McCarthy, who said: 'I'm annoyed, not disappointed. We've been beaten and we shouldn't have been. I know Drogba is a good player. But that second goal was a bad piece of defending.'
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